Sa'eed - The Warrior

Winning hearts

Shehzada Sher Shah woke up at the call of muezzin for the Fajr Salah. Everyday a congregation of the palace officials and workers gathers at the Shahi Masjid for salah. This is the beauty of Islam. No matter what your designation, in front of Allah Shehzada and his slave stand in the same line.

Dressed in simple cotton garments Shehzada looks every bit royal as he walks to the Masjid. Certainly its not the quality of clothes which classify men, it's the beauty of hearts!

"Assalamualaikum", he greets every person that comes his way. All these years the court officials usually let Shehzada be, not paying him much attention. They used to treat him as an addition to the background thinking he was fit for nothing and scared of his temper. When he stood up for the throne he had kindled hope in their hearts and now the sudden changes they observed in him and the salams (greetings) he was so generously distributing surprised them.

"Walaikumassalam", they all reply with a shocked smile.

Rehan and Shehzada Firoz Shah enter the Masjid together. Spotting his elder brother Shehzada Firoz immediately goes to stand next to him proudly.

"Greeting everyone with salam is not going to win you the throne Shehzada", says Mir Tabrez with a malicious smile.

"The great act of doing salam will win me more than just a measly throne Tabrez. You, who are more educated than me in the religious matters know that better. Still, a reminder will not do us any harm.

It has been narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "What is the best thing in Islam?" He said, "Feeding others and giving the greeting of salaam to those whom you know and those whom you do not know"

I am just following a simple sunnah Tabrez".

This statement won Shehzada a lot of appreciating looks from court officials and Shahi Imam. No one dared to counter answer Mir Tabrez and they loved it when someone stood up to him and put him in his place. Unknowingly Shehzada was winning hearts. All it takes for a man is to start following Shariah with all his heart and everything else just falls into place.

"Looks like Shehzada is certainly changing", whispers the court advisor Salman to the royal announcer Tariq.

"Yes. It all began with staying in servant quarters. His anger is in check and his behavior has become welcoming"

"Ustad Nazeer told me that he is an amazing learner and has completed all the books a Shehzada is traditionally taught within a week"

"I caught him training with Ali while passing through the lawns. He is so powerful he can take down a mad bull single handed", says the Shahi wazir joining in the conversation.

"He prefers to eat fruit instead of food is the last I heard"

"Forget the food, even his clothes have changed! Those simple garments look elegant on him"

"What do you think Salman Bhai? Will he win the challenge and ascend the throne?"

"Yes! I am very much sure he will. May Allah help him succeed and deliver us from the cunning hands of Mir Jafar"

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"Get me a glass of water child", says Malika Mariam taking her place on the couch after her prayers.

"Here it is Malika"

"You had better leave child. Sher Shah will be coming to visit me any time now"